Air-controlled solenoid golf tee



June 30, 1953 B. A. HOGEBERG AIR-CONTROLLED SOLENOID- GOLF TEE FiledOct. 16. 1950 INVENTOR. BA/er A. A/OGEBEEG A TToEx/EVS' June 30, 1953 B.A. HoGEBERG AYIRCONTROLLED SOLENOID GOLF TEE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct.16, 1950 INVENTR. BART A. HOGEBEEG @whiff Patented .Junev 30, 1953 thanUNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,643,883 Y AIR-CONTROLLED SOLENOID GOLF TEEBart A. Hogeberg, Seattle, Wash.

Application October 16, 1950, Serial No. 190,411

l operation than those previously available.

In my copending applicationSerial No. 34,279, filed June 21, 1948, thereis described an auto'- matic golf ball teeing machine utilizing theforce of a solenoid to effect descent of the reciprocable tee elementfor reloading each time a ball is driven therefrom. In that case thesolenoid energizing circuit Was controlled by photoelectric meansutilizing an interrupted beam of light restored each time thebeam-obstructing golf ball was removed from the tee. The improvementscomprising my present invention pertain to a novel automatic controlsystem and means Which are herein illustratively described by' referenceto their application in an automatic teeing machine of an improvedsolenoid type, but it should be understood that the automatic controlscontemplated are also applicable in golf ball teeing machines of othertypes or employing other motivating mechanisms for the movable teeelement.

u Another object of this invention is an` automatic ball-actuatedcontrol for a golf ball teeing machine which is unaffected by externalconditions, such as the presence of ambient or accidental lightconditions which might falsely trig- -ger a photoelectrie control aspreviously used, for

example; by shock or vibration which might falsely trigger or damage apurely mechanical type of control; by badly marred golf balls whichmight prevent proper functioning of previous air-operated controls; dirtor moisture which might inltrate and impair operation of various priortypes of controls. More specically, an object is to achieve aball-actuated air-operated control for automatic golf ball teeingmachines which is largely impervious to these and other normally adverseconditions, hence capable of moresatisfactory and reliable operationthan was previously obtainable.

My presently improved automatically controlled machine, employing a teeelement constituting an air orifice, is capable of detecting badlymarred golf balls if presented to the tee element in such a Way that alarge defect in the ball registers With the rim of Such element, andthereupon of automatically rejecting such ball and reteeing another inits place. The operations of detecting and rejecting marred balls andreteeing thenext succeeding ones, indenitely if necessary, is continueduntil a ball is presented Which'has no seriousl defect thereon locatedto 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-33) alter appreciably the flow of air through thetee element. In that manner the badly cut golf balls eventually aredetected, if not the first time through the machine, then at some futuretime, and, upon inspection by an operator, may be discarded if notplayable for practice golf purposes. On the other hand minor surfacedefects which in no case arev serious enough to justify discarding thegolf ball for practice purposes ordinarily Will not cause rejection ofthe ball by the machine. If a ball is rejected because of a fairly badcut, for example, it may still be returned into the ball hopper andreused if desired with the probability that it will be so presented tothe tee element, perhaps on several passages through the machine, thatthe defect will not cause the machine to reject it again, but ultimatelya further rejection of such ball may be anticipated. The rejection ofunplayable golf balls in one passagev or another through the machineinsures that each bad ball may at least be inspected for discardpurposes if desired although the defect might not previously have beenknown to the operator. Y

The actual lapse` of operating time between de- Vtection-rejection of abad golf ball and automatically reteeing another ball in its place isnot long enough to be objectionable to the practicing player, who in anyevent requires at least several seconds and usually much longer toreestablish himself at the proper stance'for another practice stroke.

In its presently preferred and herein illustrated form the improved golfball teeing ma'- chine comprises a lvertically reciprocable tee elementconstituting an air orifice which is opened and closed by removal anddeposit of a golf rball uponthe tee. Thisl tee element, guided forvertical movement in a housing or ball-guide tube to which a golf balldelivery chute is connected, is moved dovvnvvard into ball reloadingposition by the force of a solenoid acting in opposition to atee-elevating spring, generallyr as in my copending application citedabove. However, in the 'present' case the solenoid is completelyenclosed in a separate tube located apart from' the ball-guidetube andhas a vertically reciprocable armature connected to the tee element bymeans of a transverse arm extending through registering slots in thetubes. As a result dirt, moisture or other foreign material whichmight'` accidentally drop into the open ball-guide tube will fallharmlessly at the bottom thereof and will tion of` the lsolenoidoperating device;

In accordance with this invention I have discovered that the use ofpositive air pressure, by which air is blown up and out through the teeelement orice, is markedly less critical and much more stable andreliable as a basis for a ball-actuated control than the formersuggested practice of using a vacuum to suck air inward through suchorifice. It will be appreciated that in either case the valving actionof a golf ball placed upon and removed from such tee element orice isutilized as the influence by `which pressure is changed in the pneumaticsystem to effect actuation of a pressure sensitive switch or othercontrol device which initiates operation of tee element motivatingmeans. It is found that even small surface irregularities or defects ona golf ball may, if they prevent a tight seal of the ball upon the teeelement orice, usually prevent a sufficient pressure change in a vacuumtype control system for reliable operation. However, with the type ofsystem contemplated by my present invention,

namely one using positive air pressure, such` only relatively large cutsand mars in the surface of the golf ball prevent normal actuation of thecontrol device by air pressure change, and in that case the failure ofthe machine to operate in the normal way utilized as the basis forrejecting the bad ball and reteeing another as previously mentioned.

In the operation of the machine, air is blown upwardly and out throughthe tee element as an orifice, flowing freely through such orice whenopen or uncovered by a ball but building up -a back pressure when a balleiectively closes oif such tee element orifice upon which it seats.Normally the initiation of back pressure in the pneumatic system, causedby the presence of a ball on the tee element, causes a diaphragmoperated switch to effect opening of the solenoid energizing circuit andthereby permit the teereelevating spring to elevate the tee element intoball-teed position. If a ball is badly marred,

however, it may fail to cover this orice sufficiently to produce ampleback pressure to actuate the switch. Consequently time delay means isincorporated in the switch circuit to insure deenergization of thesolenoid after a predetermined interval of time following descent of thetee element to reloading position even should a badly marred golf ballfail to cause a back pressure high enough to operate said diaphragmoperated switch. Accordingly the tee element never remains permanentlyin the down position.

Upon elevation of the tee element, carrying a ball which effectivelycloses olf the discharge orifice therein, such tee element will remainin its -elevated position indefinitely until such ball is struck orotherwise removed therefrom. When the latter does occur the attendantreduction ofback pressure in thefpneumatic system causes the diaphragmoperated solenoid control switch to eifect energization of the solenoidfor lowering the tee element to receive another ball from the deliverychute. On the other hand, if in the teed position of the tee element thegolf ball on the tee element fails to close the orifice thereinsufficiently to build up the requisite back pressure in the system formaintaining the solenoid deenergized, then, after -a predetermined timedelay inherent in the control circuit, the

tee element, carrying the defective ball, will is advantageously y againautomatically be lowered by reenergization of the solenoid. When thisoccurs the defective golf ball is automatically struck from thedescending tee element by a deecting arm which projects into the path ofdescent of the defective ball to unseat the same from the tee element,but which is freely pivoted to swing upward out of the path of anascending ball carried by the tee element.

These and other features, objects 4and advantages of my presentinvention including certain details of the preferred and hereinillustrated form thereof will become more fully evident from thefollowing detailed description based upon the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation View of the imy proved teeing machine withthe tee element in ball-teed position.

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation view with the tee element inball-receiving or reloading position, parts being broken away to showinterior details.

, Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the control system including thesolenoid energizing andcontrol circuit cooperating with the pneumaticball actuated means.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the machine comprises a baseplate I0 upon which the ball g-uidetube I2 is mounted in uprightposition. The tee element I4 reciprocates vertically in this tubebetween elevated, ball-teed position shown in Figure l and depressed,ball reloading position shown in Figure 2. An inclined ball-deliverychute I6 (Figure 3) delivers golf balls G to a loading position,represented by the ball outline G1, beside a suitable entrance openingin the side of the ball guide tube I2l at or slightly above the level ofthe tee element i4 in its depressed position, similar to the arrangementdisclosed in my copending application cited above.

A hall in loading position G1, is pushed into the ball guide tube I2 bythe loading plunger I8 automatically upon descent of the tee element I4into ball reloading position as shown in Figure 2. For this purpose theplunger I8 is guided through an aperture in the delivery chute outerwall for reciprocation generally horizontally through the center of ballloading position Gi in a direction transverse both to the ball deliverychute and ball guide tube I2, the plunger traveling between retractedposition shown in Figure l and inwardly thrust position shown in Figure2. Reciprocation of such loading plunger between these positions iseffected by swinging of the bell crank 2U upon a horizontal pivot 22carried by the fixed supporting arm 2li projecting laterally from theside of the ball guide tube I2. The generally horizontal arm 26h of thebell crank projects into the ball guide tube I2 through a suitablevertical slot in the side thereof adjacent the root of support arm 24,which slot accommodates swinging of armrgh. A tension spring 26connected at its upper end to the bottom of the guide chute I6 and atits lower end to the arm 20h normally urges such arm upwardly intocontact with an adjustable stop 28, thereby maintaining the plunger I8normally in its retracted position withdrawn from the delivery chute bythe generally upright arm 2Ilv of the bell crank pivotallyinterconnected with such plunger. Adjustable abutment elements 30 and 32carried respectively by the vertically reciprocable tee elementsupporting-head 35i and the inwardly projecting endof,thearmlh-:interengage upon. descent movement: ciY the tee elementhead St, and thereby causesuchxarmzto swing downwardly withr theremaining; downward. travel of the head 3d. Consequentlyasthe-teeelement is arrivingat ball reloading position,` attendantrocking of theY bell crank drives the loading. plunger I-8 inwardv tothrust a ball from loading position'Cn into the ball guidetubeto seatupon the tee element.

Descentmovement. of the tee-element supporting head Sis effected bymeans of an intermittently energized solenoid device xed uponv thesupport I adjacent to the ball guide tube I2. The solenoid coil Sappearing partly in Figure 2, comprises a largenumber of conductor turnssurrounding the nonmagnetic vertical tube 36 received centrally withinthe solenoidhousing 38 andprojecting upwardly to a height materiallyabove thesolenoid. Thetwo tubes, I2 and 36, are interconnected by abrace 3l as shown. The tube 36 slidably receives and guides the magneticsolenoid armatureelement l for vertical reciprocation therein;Energizing current is supplied to the solenoid winding at appropriatetimes through the two-wire conduit 1w' whichv enters a terminal mountingd2, located at the top of the solenoid housing.' i

A compression spring' is received in the lower portion of the armature?guide tube 36 and reacts upwardly on thesolenoid armature element la tomaintain such armature normally in an elevated positionshown inFigure 1. A crossarm fit extending through'. alignedy vertical slots i3and 59, respectively in the ballV guide tube I2 and arma ture guide tube36, as shown, rigidly interconnects the tee element supporting-head Siland the solenoid armature element 413.- This crossarm provides fullsupport for the tee element head and thereby causes the tee element toreciprocate up and down between the-extreme positions mentioned,effected by energization and deenergization of the solenoid which actsin opposition to the force of' the armature spring. When the solenoid isenergized the armature element M, and with it the element I4 are drawndownward magnetically into ballreloading position of such tee elementandthe spring Se is thereby com.- pressed. When the solenoid isdeenergized the spring relaxes and raises these elements into theirupper position.

Aswill be evident the solenoid device, including coil. and armature,isventirely separate from the ball .guide ltube and tee element and islaterally offset therefrom so that, in a ground installation, forexample, dirt and water dropping through the ground orfloor open-ingaligned with the reciprocating tee element Il for teeing of golf ballsthrough such opening will not come into contact with the solenoidvdevice norinterfere with any parts which bear slidably upon` each otheror otherwise. In this latter. connection itwill be noted that the ballguide tube. i2 serves noguiding function with respect to the tee elementsupportingehead except insofar as slot d8 assists in preventinghorizontal,swingingv of the crossarm 45 about the verticall axis ofarmature guide tube 3B. if desired the armature element and guide tube3&3 may be adapted to function as a dashpot device, as disclosed inmycopending application cited above, to prevent-excessive acceleration anddeceleration of the solenoid armature at the ends of travel thereofi l lIn order to render the improved solenoid golf ball teeing`machineaful-lyautomatic so that each time a golf .ball G is drivenvfrom the tee element Gil I4! the machine' automaticallyv lowersr` andVreelevates the tee element with another ball teed thereon, such elementherein is madeinr the form of a tubular orifice through which air isblown upwardly against the bottom of Va golf ball seated thereon' asshown in Figure 1. The tee'element I4 is-a rubber tube which isstretched elastically to t around the tubular supporting stud 52 (Figurel) carried by1 the reciprocative head 34. An air passageway 5I! isformed through thisv head which communicates with the tubular tee ele-vment andan air supply tube 54 branching from the lower portion of theheadf Air under pressure is delivered to the tube 54 by a flexible hose561 The side of the ball guide tube I2 has a vertical slot 53 thereinlto accommodate such tube and hosefor vertical reciprocation of the teeelement.

As shown schematically in Figuree, the exible hose 56- extends toasuitable pressure source such as the blowerB. If no ball is seated uponthe upper end of the tee-element to close off itsorice opening the airimpelled by the blower will ow freely through the tube 56, passage 5Iand out through the tee element orice. Under this condition the force ofthe blower will be converted largely into velocity head, and thepressure head inthe air'passages named will be relativelyy low. However,when a golf `ball G is seated upon the upper end of the tee element I4and eiectively closes the opening therein, a back pressure develops inthesek air passage-s which is relatively higher than the pressure underthe'previous con-gV dition; l p

Thisv pressure variation accompanying opening and closing of the teeelement orice by the removal and replacement of a golf ball thereon isutilized to actuate a control switch 6@ (Figure 4) in a manner effectingenergization and deenergization, respectively, ofthe solenoid S. Forthis purpose, the arm of switch 61B is actuated by a control rod 62connected tothe central portion of a pressure-sensitive diaphragm 6i,which constitutesu the dividing partition in a vhousing B, the lowerportion of which is sealed except for an opening communicating with aair tube 53. The latter in turn extends into the hose 58 or otherpressure point inthe pneumatic system, for' transmitting the airpressure of the 4latter continuously to the lowerhalf of the diaphragmhousing 66 as shown. The diaphragm causes switch I to be opened (Figure4) when the tee 'element orice is substantially closed by the presenceof a golf ball on the tee element I4, and to be closed upon removal ofsuch ball from the tee element. Referring to Figure4, the preferredcomplete electric circuit for the teeing machine and automatic controldevice thereinr isenergized by aup'lication orstandard` alternatingvoltage to the input-terminals 'Ill across which themotor of blower B isdirectly connected as shown. One contact of diaphragm switch Sil isenergized` through the supplyrconductor I2 and through the switch 'Hiwhen the latter is closed by depression'of-its control arm i8`l underthe weightof a golf'ball in the delivery chute Iii. If rthere areno golfballs in the delivery chute the entire circuit, except blower B, isdeenergized by switch I6-then being open.

The other contact of the switchis connected -to thel Contact t0 of therelay switch 82 and to the cathode of the thyratron tube 84. The relayswitch 82 is of the normally closed type and 'its other terminal 86'is-connected to the point 881 in the full-wave bridge rectifier circuit90 and to one side of the primary winding of the filament transformer 92for the thyratron tube 84. The other side of the filament transformerprimary is connected to the supply conductor I4 which in turn isconnected to the opposite point 94 in the bridge rectifier 90. One sideof the winding of relay 82 is connected to conductor I4 and its oppositeside, through the current-lim.. iting resistor 96, to the anode of thethyratron 84. Anode and grid of the thyratron are interconnected, asthrough a resistor 98 of high resistance value, so that the thyratronfunctions as a diode rectifier. A filter condenser IIlii is connectedbetween the terminals of the relay winding as shown to convert the relayenergizing current impulses of thyratron rectifier 84 into a steadierenergizing current so that the relay will not chatter when energized.The output terminals of the full-wave bridge rectifier 90 are connectedto the terminals of solenoid S through the supply conductors I02 andI04.

From an inspection of the circuit diagram, it will be evident thatdirect current energizing the solenoid S is supplied by the full-wavebridge rectifier 9U whenever all three of the switches 16, 60 and 82 aresimultaneously closed, and that opening of any one of these switchesdisrupts energization of the solenoid and thereby causes the tee elementI4 to return to elevated position.

Assuming that the on-oii switch 'I6 is closed by the pressure of asupply of golf balls in the delivery chute I6, the normal operation ofthe control circuit is as follows. With the tee element in its elevatedposition carrying a golf ball which effectively closes the tee elementoriiice to create substantial back pressure in the pneumatic system, thediaphragm switch 60 is held open as shown in the figure. The relayswitch 82 is then closed, being its normal position, as no energizingcurrent then flows through the relay coil for the reason that theopening of switch 60 prevents flow of energizing current thereto throughthyratron 84. Under these conditions no energizing current flows throughthe solenoid S either, and the tee element therefore remainsindefinitely in its elevated position.

However, when the ball is struck from the tee element I4 and the teeelement orifice is thereby1 opened, pressure in the pneumatic systemimmediately drops. This drop in pressure actuates the diaphragm 64 toclose switch 69 and establishes flow of energizing current in thesolenoid S. The tee element is immediately lowered thereby for automaticreloading by operation of the mechanism already described in connectionwith Figures 1 to 3. At the same time the thyratron filament commencesheating by virture of current flow through the primary of filamenttransformer 92; however, no plate current will flow in the thyratronuntil after the lapse cf a thermal delay period represented by theseveral seconds required for the filament temperature to reach operatinglevel.

This thermal delay period oifered. by the thyratron, and initiated atthe time just indicated extends beyond the period of time required forthe tee element to descend and another ball to be loaded upon the teeelement by the teeing mchanism and reopen switch 60 to deenergize thesolenoid. As soon as switch BB reopens, flow of heating current in thethyratron filament, not yet at operating temperature, is automaticallycut olf, accompanied by deenergization of solenoid S. Therefore, therelay switch 82 never opens, as thyratron. does not conduct platecurrent, at any point in the normal cycle of operation, that is, whenswitch 60 is opened by a ball on the tee element, even though heating ofthe thyratron filament is initiated every time the switch 6|) is closedby removal of a golf ball from such tee element.

The machine and automatic control mechanism operates normally in theforegoing manner when the golf balls delivered to the tee elementtherein are not badly out or marred, which includes all those golf ballswhich might reasonably be used for practice golf with such a machine andeven those having fairly vsubstantial surface irregularities. In otherwords, it is found that the pressure increase in the pneumatic system,influencing the diaphragm switch, whenever a golf ball is placed uponthe tee element will be great enough to effect opening of such switchdespite substantial surface irregularities on the ball registering withthe rim of the tee element, and that a perfect seal between the ball andsuch rim is by no means necessary to effect that result. Only a verylarge cut or dent in the surface of a ball, registering with the teeelement rim, will prevent a build-up in back pressure sufcient to openthe switch 60 and cause deenergization of the solenoid S.

However, even when there is deposited on the tee element in its loweredposition a ball which is so badly defective and is so positioned on thetee element rim that it fails to sufficiently block the orifice toeffect opening of the switch 60, this circumstance nevertheless does notrender the machine inoperative, but instead results immediately inthe'automatic removal of the badly defective ball from the tee elementand the automatic reteeing of the next ball in the delivery chute. Thedetection and rejection of badly defective balls in this manner isaccomplished as follows. The cycle involved begins with the removal of asatisfactorily teed golf ball, that is, one effectively blocking the teeelement orifice, from the tee element in elevated position, attended byclosing of diaphragm switch $0 initiating descent of the element I4, andinitiation of the thermal delay period represented by the time requiredfor heating of the thyratron fila'- ment toa temperature conducive toflow of thyratron plate current. Then because the badly defective balldelivered upon the tee element arrived in ball reloading position failsto reopen the switch S0, the condition specified above, such tee elementwould tend to remain in the down position indefinitely except for thefact that after the elapse of a few seconds, the filament of thyratron84 arrives at operating temperature and the tube becomes conductive.When the latter occurs, the thyratron functions as a rectifier supplyingenergizing current to the coil of relay 82 which opens the contacts ofsuch relay.

The effect of opening the relay 32 is twofold. First, it effectsdeenergization of the solenoid S so that the tee element I4 is permittedto return to elevated position carrying the defective ball. Secondly,opening of the relay 82 breaks the energizing circuit for the prima-ryof thyratron iilament transformer 92, and the thyratron filamentimmediately commences to cool ofi. However, because of thermal lag ofits filament a definite although short period of time elapses before thetube becomes non-conductive even after removal of filament current.During this lapse of time the thyratron continues to conduct, therefore,

which it does long enough for the tee element to Ireach velevatedposition.

When flow of plate current the thyratron H ceases `and permits therelay`82 againto return to closed position, Vthe diaphragm switch Sstill being closed, solenoid Slis again energized and the tee elementagain lowered carryingy the badly defective ball. The pivotedball-deflecting arm |06 projecting into the path of the :descending golfball then unseats the ball from the tee element and causes it -to rollout of the way, as

suggested by the dotted Aline position ofthe ball in'Figure 4. The emptytee element isthen free to receive another ball from the delivery chute.

' While the ball-deilecting arm is unyielding to are defective balldescending on the tee element, .it

is free to swing upwardly out of the rpath ofthe nextball being raisedby'thetee element-as/'indicated bythe dotted line position of such arm.

thyratron until the tee element receives a-golf ball having a suiiciently good surface engaging the tee element rim to reopen thediaphragm. switch 60. It is important to note, however, that the designor adjustment of the pneumatic'system and diaphragm switch is not-atallcritical with relation to the degree of smoothness of the golf ballsurface seated upon the tee element,f.

because the back pressure in the system builds up to a lrelativelyvlarge-extent even when the tee element iscovered-by a fairly roughball, which includes all of the golf balls which normally might be usedfor practice golf. However, the 1- control adjustment or design of thediaphragm switch may easily be made such that a very badly marred ballwill fail to reopen the switch Se. As previously mentioned, a vacuumtype system is extremely critical of adjustment and, except with Veryexpensive and elaborate vacuum equipment will fail to operate at allunless a very close seal between the tee element and the golf ballsurface is obtained. Moreover, a vacuum system is also subject to thepossibility of dirt and moisture being drawn by the vacuum into thesystem, to the damage of the equipment. In a positive pressure typesystem such as that disclosed herein, the amount of force directedupwardly against the golf ball and tending to unseat it from the teeelement is negligible as the diaphragm actuated -switch may easily beconstructed to respond sensitively to varying pressures at low level.

I claim as my invention:

l. Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee elementreciprocable between ballteed and ball loading positions and havingtherein a normally open air orice adapted to be closed by seating of agolf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperating with suchtee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically inloading position thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tee elementto eiect passage of air through said orifice when open,pressure-sensitive control means connected with said pneumatic means foractuation of such control means oppositely by corresponding reversechanges of pressure in said pneumatic means eiected by seating andremoval of a golf ball upon and from said tee element, respectively, teeelement motivating means controlled by said control means to move saidtee element from ball-teed position to ball loading position in responseto pressure change accompanying removal of a golf ball from said teeelement, and

Ufreverselyfin response to the reverse `pressure change accompanyingloading of a-'golf vball Von said tee element, delay meansk connecteditosaid motivating means to effect such reverse .operation thereof.automatically -upon expiration of -a predetermined delayperiodvfollowing activation of said delay meansv should said .controlmeans fail -to-eiect such reverseoperation, and

means operable to `activate said delay'means. upon removal of a golfball from such tee element.

`2. The automatic golf ball teeing apparatus defined'in'claim l,whereinthe pneumatic means Acomprises ablower connected to the teeelement and operable to force airV underpositve pressure out through'the tee element orifice when open and to build-up back pressure whenagolf ballkis seated on such tee element Veiectively to close suchorice.

3. The automatic golf ball teeing apparatus defined in claim l, andfurther delay means operatively connectedto the motivating means andvcontrolling such motivating means to effect movement of the tee elementinto ball loading position thereof automatically upon expiration of thedelay period of such further delaymeans, and means interconnecting thefirst-mentioned 'delay means `and said -further delay meansto actuatesaid further delay means .by operation of said first-mentioned delaymeans in the: event a vdefective golf ball fails )to `close the tee ele-Lil) v:ment orifice.

4. The automatic golf ball teeing apparatus defined in claim 1, andfurther ldelay means operatively connected to the control means and` tothe motivating means and operable to prevent actuation of the motivatingmeans by the control means during a predetermined period followinginitiation of movement of the tee element toward ball-teed position.

5. Automatic golf 'ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee elementreciprocable between ballteed and ball loading positions and havingtherein a normally open air orifice adapted to be closed by seating of agolf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperating with suchtee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically inloading position thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tee elementto blow air under positive pressure outward through such tee elementorifice when open and to build up 'back pressure therein when closed,pressuresensitive control means connected with said pneumatic means foractuation of such control means oppositely by corresponding reversechanges in pressure in said pneumatic means eiTecte-d by seating andremoval of golf balls upon and from said tee element, respectively, andtee element motivating means controlled by said control means to movesaid tee element from ball-teed position to ball loading position inresponse to pressure decrease accompanying removal of a gol-i ball fromsaid tee element, and reversely in response to pressure increaseaccompanying loading of a golf ball on said tee element by said loadingmeans.

6. Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee elementreciprocable between ballteed and ball loading positions and havingtherein a normally open air `orifice adapted to be closed by seating ofa golf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperative withsuch tee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically inloading .position thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tee elementto effect passage of air through said orifice when open,pressure-sensitive control means connected With said pneumatic means foractuation of Isuch control means oppositely by corresponding reversechanges of pressure in said pneumatic means eiected by seating andremoval of a golf ball upon and from said tee element, respectively, teeelement motivating means controlled by said control means to move saidtee element from 'ball-teed position to ball loading position inresponse to pressure change accompanying removal of a golf ball fromsaid tee element, and reversely in respon-se to the reverse pressurechange accompanying loading of a golf ball on said tee element,automatic means connected to said motivating means to effect movement ofthe tee element into ball-teed position and immediately thereafter backinto ball loading position failing `actuation of the control means tocause movement of the tee element from ball loading position toball-teed position, and means cooperating with said tee element andautomatically operable to unseat a golf ball carried by said tee elementduring movement thereof from ball-teed to ball loading position.

7. Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee elementreciprocable between ballteed 4and ball loading positions and havingtherein a normally open air orifice adapted to be closed by seating of agolf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperating with suchtee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically inloading position thereof,

to effect passage of air through said orifice when open,pressure-sensitive control means connected with said pneumatic means foractuation of such control means oppositely by corresponding reversechanges of pressure in said pneumatic means effected by seating andremoval of a golf ball upon and from said tee element, respectively, teeelement motivating means controlled by said control means to move saidtee element from ball-teed position to ball loading position in responseto pressure change accompanying removal of a golf ball from said teeelement, and reversely in response to the reverse pressure changeaccompanying loading of a golf -ball on said tee element, and delaymeans connected for actuation by operation' of said control means andconnected to said motivating means operatively to eiect such reverseoperation thereof automatically upon expiration of the delay period ofsaid delay means should said control means fail to effect such reverseoperation.

BART A. HOGEBERG.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,051,253 Goehler et al. Aug. 18, 1936 2,335,280 Hogeberg Nov.30, 1943 2,520,952 lMozel Sept. 5, 1950

